The National tribune., 1887-07-21
See Comrade Taylor's adv. on page S.
THEY HAD PLUCK.
The Wonderful Courage and Patient Endurance
the Volunteer Soldiers.

The Wonderful Courage and Patient Endurance OF
the Volunteer Soldiers.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In one of
those changes Of position which were con-
stantly occurring III front of Atlanta, our di-
vision was suddenly halted in some thick tim
Der. No enemy could be seen, but the sharp
rattle of muskets on our skirmish-line told our
trained ears that battle would soon take place.
We formed by regiments, when word was pass
ed down the lines to strip blankets, haversacks
and coats and fix bayonets. Every man knew
what this meant-a charge was to be made at
once. The enemy's shells were already screech-
ing through the trees and exploding among u.s.
Two men from each company were called to
volunteer and remain as guards for the property,
but not a man moved; they had rather go into
the midst of almost certain death than to re-
main in the rear while their comrades were
fighting.
This brave trait, which I had many times
seen, at this time impressed itself upon my
mind as wonderful, and as | looked down our
company line and saw the determined faces
blanched with unwonted whiteness, showing
that they knew their danger but dared to meet
it, i realized what true coRrage was The or
der Forward :" rang out, and the battle was
soon raging. The roar Of muskets, the BOOM
ing of cannon, and the crack of exploding
shells drowned all other sounds. The veterans
of both armies were in the rough hands of
bloody Death,-many TO escape and many to
fall,-yet not a man falteTed GOOd-by was
quickly said to a wounded comrade, then on
no stopping now.
Near the close Of the engagement was struck
down, and conveyed to the field hospital and
laid on the ground under the spreading trees
among many other wounded. This was the
first field hospital that l had seen in over two
years service, and as the hundreds of wounded
were brought in / wondered much at the small
amount OF apparent suffering of those about
me. | knew that / was suffering excruciating
pain, but all about me were men as badly hurt
as myself, and worse, and how they managed
to keep back the great means that would strug-
gle to their lips was mystery. But soon un-
derstood that l was among q body OF truly
brave men, whose courage and will-power over
Swallowed all pain.
The Surgeons and assistants dressed our
wounds, aud when the rain began to fall many
of us went 10 sleep, TO awake in the morning
and be taken to the amputating table. The
table was built near the head of the row in
which was lying. The Surgeons stripped for
their work, and the man at the head of the
row was placed on she boards. A shudder crept
over me as | saw his strong right arm cut of
and thrown upon the ground, bat hs never
murmured. The next man was quickly dis
posed of, aud so on down the line. There were
no cries. no complaints from any, except those
who were delirious. BY turn had Come, and
when the Surgeons work was done and / real
ICED that was cripple for life, the tears would
come in spite Of me but the majority of the
brave men gave no outward expression of their
intense agony. The wonderful courage that
had sustained them on many bloody fields did
not forsake them now. Such material as have
described made the Union army inyincible, and
history can give no account of greater courage
than was displayed by tho American soldier,
no matter on which side he fought.-"M," Co.
h, 18th Mich, Sedan, Kan.